Q11. The spot rate for the dollar is 0.1432 $/ADF. Andorran and U.S. interest rates are 6.6% and 7.2%, respectively. If the 1-year forward rate is 0.1430 $/ADF, a U.S. investor could earn an arbitrage dollar profit per ADF of:

A) $0.0011.

B) $0.0010.

C) $0.0075.

.

答案和详解如下：

Q11. The spot rate for the dollar is 0.1432 $/ADF. Andorran and U.S. interest rates are 6.6% and 7.2%, respectively. If the 1-year forward rate is 0.1430 $/ADF, a U.S. investor could earn an arbitrage dollar profit per ADF of:

A) $0.0011.

B) $0.0010.

C) $0.0075.

Correct answer is A)

Let us first check if an arbitrage opportunity exists. Applying the interest rate parity theorem, we have:

Forward rate = 0.1432 × 1.072/1.066 = 0.1440 $/ADF > 0.1430 $/ADF (quoted forward rate)

This implies that an arbitrage opportunity exists. The inequality implies that ADF is mispriced (weak) in the forward market or is underpriced relative to the dollar. We should buy ADF in the forward market and sell the dollar in the spot market. This requires that we borrow in Andorra and convert the francs into dollars at the spot rate. Invest the proceeds in U.S. securities @ 7.2%, and simultaneously enter into a forward transaction where we sell the dollars for ADF @ 0.1430 $/ADF. Assuming that we borrow 1 ADF today and convert it into dollars, we will have 0.1432 dollars to invest at 7.2% for one year. After one year we will have 0.1432 × 1.072 = 0.1535 dollars. At that point, we will owe an Andorran bank 1 × 1.066 or 1.066 ADF, including interest. We will need to convert enough dollars at the forward rate to pay off this loan. At the forward contract rate, we will need to convert 1.066 × 0.1430 = 0.1524 dollars into ADF to pay off our obligation. This will leave us with an arbitrage profit of 0.1535 − 0.1524 = 0.0011 dollars.